What is a Trade?

The title "Christian By Trade" was chosen to illustrate what I believe the Christian walk should be about. "Trade" has so many meanings; these are the ones I have in mind in refernce to the life of a Christian:

- a path traversed; the way
- a track or trail left by a person
- a customary course of action; practice
- the business or work in which one engages regularly
- an occupation requiring skill

As a Christian, we should be traversing the path or trail left by Jesus Christ, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. We should make it our business to work at and take action regarding the example He set before us. Our lifestyles should follow and mirror His lifestyle. This requires us to fellowship with God regularly in prayer and the reading of His word. In this practice we gain the skill required to live godly lives.

What Rules Do You Live By?

As a person who was formerly under bondage, it breaks my heart to see people living this way. Whether it's confining yourself to worshipping on the sabbath, abstaining from meats, or not celebrating holidays - it's all the same to me!

I don't condemn anyone who chooses to do these things, but I do question why. Do you believe God condemns those who don't keep the sabbath holy, eat all meats, or celebrate holidays such as Christmas and Easter?

There is no condemnation in these things! There are plenty of scriptures that illustrate this fact: 1 Corinthians 6, Colossians 2, Romans 14, and 1 Timothy - just to name a few.

With that, I leave you with these scriptures:

1 Corinthians 10:31
Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

Colossians 3:17
And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

Colossians 3:23
And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

But I can't leave without sharing a favorite of mine:
Titus 1:15
Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.

Now those are some words to live by!

Summer Got Saved

This is a video I did about Summer getting saved!
As awesome as it was to see my prayers be answered right in front of my eyes, I realize that I must remain in prayer for her and her family and friends.

Been Busy, But Video to Come

Sooo much has been going on in this last week: with school coming to an end and time growing closer to the holidays. I think I will make a couple videos today to update everyone!

Why I Don't Censor Myself

Yes, I am a Christian. But I can tell you beyond the shadow of a doubt that I am not one of those Christians that 'lives in a box.' There have been many times that I have said or talked about things that some may feel are not "befitting" of a Christian. I may not be the ideal Christian. I may not be your ideal Christian! But I am still a Christian saved by grace just like every other Christian. I don't only have Christian friends. I don't only have conservative conversations. I don't make myself unrelatable. I have been there, done that. Some are more comfortable living in the way that I just described - it works well for them, usually because of their own struggles and temptations - we've all been there too. This is why I practice self-restraint with my Christian friends - because I don't want to cause them to stumble. Yet, it is through spiritual growth and maturity that I am able to become all things to all people so that I may gain some (1 Cor. 9). I don't mind showing my weaknesses, because in my weakness, God's strength is made perfect (2 Cor. 12:9).

What Are You Celebrating?

For those who don't already know, I am a student and therefore have been very busy with finals fastly approaching next week...

That being said, it is the Christmas season. For many people all over the world, Christian and non-Christians alike, this is their favorite time of year. But for most, it is more about gifts, parties, food, drinking, etc. Even amongst self-proclaimed Christians, hardly is there a person found who has the proper perspective about Christmas.

I pose this question to everyone: what are you celebrating when you celebrate Christmas?

Husbands and Wives

Today, I asked my facebook friends to post their favorite husband/wife scriptures. I got some pretty good responses: scriptures about arguing, submitting, loving, sex and everything in between!

My absolute favorite scripture about the husband and wife relationship can be found in 1 Peter 3. Don't get me wrong, the whole chapter is good - actually all of the scriptures I received in response were good - but there is something in particular about verse 7 of 1 Peter 3 that I absolutely love:

"Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered."

It addresses husbands specifically (though it is wise instruction for wives as well). It instructs husbands to behave unselfishly towards their wives. A husband should know and understand his wife - including her wants and needs, goals and desires - and give her honor because she is deserving of honor. Scratch that, because God commands it!

"As unto the weaker vessel" is a reference to the wife being physically weaker - we know this because the "vessel" is the body. Therefore, the wife is not mentally, emotionally, or spiritually weaker than the husband.

Husbands and wives are to be heirs together. This phrase indicates to me (along with parallel scriptures like those found in Ephesians 5) that the wife is not inferior to the husband. They are in fact equal, but with separate roles. The wife's voluntary submission to her husband does not mean that she is beneath him, nor should she be treated as subservient or "less than."

The final phrase "that your prayers be not hindered" let's me know that the way a husband treats (or mistreats) his wife could hinder his spiritual relationship with God. Malachi 2:13-15 conveys a similar idea in saying that God would not regard a man's offering because he has dealt treacherously with the wife of his youth. Treachery does not just mean being unfaithful, but also being unreliable or showing indifference toward the marriage vows.

What did we vow when we got married?

For Christian husbands, the vow was to love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her. Do husbands truly understand this kind of self sacrificing love? Husbands ought to love their own wives as themselves (I am paraphrasing Ephesians 5). That is saying a lot. Christ gave His very life for the church. Are Christian husbands willing to give their lives for their wives? It's hard to say you would give your life if you are not willing to give the things that mean far less than a life.

How about simply 'doing unto others?' If we truly want to experience the joy of God's design for a godly marriage, a husband should treat his wife as well as he would treat himself.

Christmas Music

I got my first taste of Christmas music last night on my way to school! I must say, that is some uplifting stuff lol! It's hard to be or stay in a bad mood when listening to Christmas music, isn't it? Lol!

Anyway, I heard this song and wanted to share it with everyone because it is so true and some serious food for thought.

What Do You Work For?

Last night, my pastor said something to the extent of: whatever you want/value, you work for. Whatever you want, you work for, you prepare for. If you're looking forward to eternity and being with the Lord, that is what you prepare for. Our lives are but a vapor, but eternity is forever.

I want to prepare to be with God for all eternity. That's what is most important to me. I find it so motivating that Jesus could come at ANY time. I used to think that He could only come after certain prophecies were fulfilled. There are still prophecies leading up to the great tribulation that have yet to be fulfilled, but I realize now that all prophecies have been fulfilled in order for the rapture to happen. Jesus can come at any time!!! I think I'll be discussing that in my next video...

I'm not sure if I will still be alive when the rapture happens, but if I am, I want Him to find me doing something to further His kingdom and not my own selfish desires.

Rapture, Death, & The Last Days

Lately, I've been thinking a lot about the rapture for some reason. Reading about it and researching it and watching movies about it and talking about it. It's been on my mind quite a bit. I wonder if I will be around to see it or if I will die before then...

Dying used to be something that I was really scared of. I think it was more so the fear of the unknown that scared me: what happens after you die? That sort of thing. Once I discovered that absence from the body means to be present with the Lord, that really put my mind at ease.

There are days when I would really rather be there than here. I can't imagine a life of total peace. No hurt, no pain, no fear? Sounds like heaven! Ha-ha get it? Heaven...
But for the most part, I want to be here to raise my children into godly adults - I feel like I can't leave that responsibility to someone else. It was entrusted to me.

I really went off on a tangent there, didn't I? Lol! Anyway, here's a video I made about the 70 week prophecy found in Daniel. Hope it gives you a little more understanding regarding the end times/last days.